Chapter 15: The Forest of Death
"Ahem, shouldn't we look for the Heaven Scroll first?" one of his teammates ventured.
Hearing this, Akatsurugi paused. "No need. We just wait by the entrance and ambush the first team that shows up. That's enough."
His words left the other two speechless. He made it sound so simple. They understood the concept, but with their strength, robbing others? More like delivering care packages.
If they were truly strong, they wouldn't have been assigned as leftovers.
Knowing his teammates weren't top-tier, Akatsurugi didn't elaborate. "Just hide well when the time comes. As long as you don't get in my way, I'll carry you through this."
Akatsurugi wasn't boasting. Given his current strength, he was genuinely a cut above the average Genin. He had the Rasengan, high-level genjutsu, Fire Release, and excellent taijutsu. Even facing Konoha's future "Konoha 11," he could hold his own.
Of course, a fully enraged Nine-Tails-powered Naruto was an exception. He couldn't beat that.
Soon, they reached the tower's vicinity and found a hiding spot. Not long after, another team arrived and hid nearby.
Akatsurugi grinned. Seems there are quite a few with the same idea.
But he wasn't worried. While his chakra reserves weren't on par with special constitutions like Naruto's, they were still substantial for a Genin—likely a side effect of his powerful spiritual energy.
His plan was simple: ambush the first team trying to enter the tower. He ignored the others hiding nearby. Eventually, a team rushed towards the tower, their uniforms slightly disheveled, clearly having fought recently.
Akatsurugi leaped out immediately. He didn't wait for others to make the first move or try to profit from their efforts. He was confident in his own strength.
Seeing Akatsurugi block their path, the three Genin instantly formed a battle formation. The quality of Konoha's Genin in this era was still high. They weren't panicked; they had anticipated an ambush.
The other hidden teams held their positions, seeing Akatsurugi act first. Who wouldn't want to profit from someone else's fight?
"Hand over your scroll," Akatsurugi stated bluntly. "You'll still have a chance to find another."
Obviously, words alone weren't enough.
"Careful, he looks skilled," the spiky-haired boy, presumably the leader, commanded swiftly. "Tsuruta, engage him in taijutsu. Konomi, harass him with genjutsu. Saki, support with ninjutsu!"
In an instant, they had a plan. The boy named Tsuruta charged.
"Tsuruta, be careful!" Konomi called out, already forming hand seals for a genjutsu.
Akatsurugi simply formed a single counter-seal, dispelling Konomi's illusion effortlessly. Meanwhile, Saki completed her seals. "Earth Style: Earth-Style Spike!" A sharp pillar of rock shot from the ground towards Akatsurugi.
Akatsurugi sidestepped smoothly, simultaneously drawing Ryūjin Jakka. He swung the sealed blade in a wide arc, meeting Tsuruta's "Konoha Whirlwind" head-on. The force of the blow sent Tsuruta stumbling backward.
"What?!" Saki gasped. Tsuruta's taijutsu was among the best of their peers, yet his signature technique was effortlessly parried. Konomi's genjutsu had failed utterly, and her own ninjutsu had missed.
"Demonic Illusion: Shackling Stakes Technique!" Akatsurugi's hands flashed through seals. An illusion seized Konomi, whose eyes widened in terror as she became trapped in a nightmare of her own.
As Saki tried to warn her, Akatsurugi spun into a "Konoha Whirlwind" of his own, his kick landing solidly on Saki's guard and sending her flying.
In the brief chaos, Akatsurugi plucked two scrolls from the stunned Konomi's pouch and leaped back.
Tsuruta lunged forward, but it was too late. Akatsurugi identified the Heaven Scroll, tossed the Earth Scroll back to the ground, and sprinted for the tower entrance.
Furious but pragmatic, Tsuruta grabbed the Earth Scroll. They still had a chance.
"Now!" two voices shouted simultaneously. The other hidden teams saw their opportunity and sprang from the foliage, six Genin in total, blocking Akatsurugi's path.
Akatsurugi never broke stride. His hands moved as he ran. "Fire Style: Fire Dragon Projectile!" A roaring dragon of flame erupted from his mouth, forcing the ambushers to scatter to the sides.
In unison, they hurled kunai and shuriken.
Akatsurugi responded in kind, his own projectiles deflecting theirs with uncanny precision, some even ricocheting back towards the throwers.
"Uchiha Throwing Technique?!" someone exclaimed. They'd seen the Uchiha clan's distinctive, unpredictable shurikenjutsu at the Academy. Combined with Akatsurugi's Fire Release, they assumed he was Uchiha.
Akatsurugi didn't pause to correct them. He burst through their makeshift line, letting out a sharp whistle—the pre-arranged signal for his teammates to retreat.
His two teammates, watching from hiding, were stunned. Was he really this strong? Three teams of Genin couldn't even slow him down.
Their shock quickly turned to elation. With Akatsurugi's strength, they were guaranteed to pass. Maybe they could even become Chūnin!
Entering the tower first, Akatsurugi waited. His teammates, who hadn't been far, arrived shortly after. They were the first team to complete the second stage. Akatsurugi unsealed the Heaven and Earth scrolls. A puff of smoke revealed a proctor who explained the final rules—they had passed the preliminaries.
Gradually, more teams trickled into the tower. Those who failed to arrive within the time limit were disqualified.
Akatsurugi surveyed the room. At least fifteen teams had made it, meaning a conservative forty-five Genin had passed the preliminaries.
The final selection wouldn't let all of them pass, however. Chūnin were the backbone of a village's forces. No sane leadership would promote recklessly. The real test was yet to come.